<p>I am trying to decide between these three schools. I know stats wise Michigan is much better, but I also don't really want to leave Massachusetts. Is Michigan worth leaving Mass? or will Tufts/Brandeis suffice?</p>
<p>All three are very good research universities with reputable physics programs. Each will position you for grad school (assuming that is your goal) if you do well there. Because of its size, Michigan may give you a wider variety of research opportunities (important experience for grad school). But overall Michigan is so much larger than Tufts or Brandeis that your overall college experience would be quite different and those are probably the issues you should decide on more than differences in their physics programs.</p>
<p>that makes sense. Thanks</p>
<p>i know that brandeis and tufts are both very reputable science schools (also a Mass native, one of my senior friends [i’m a junior] is going to tufts in the fall and he’s very pumped), and also that brandeis had some sort of connection with einstein. ex-gf told me he was a benefactor or founder or something? don’t exactly remember although a founder is probably what she said. UMich is also a top-notch school, and it really comes down to where you want to be and what you want your experience in college to be like- UMich will probably give you the most “traditional” college experience with great academics, fantastic sports (can you say football/basketball games?) and parties as well if thats something you’re into, but its also HUGE. </p>
<p>Since you’re from MA i’m assuming you know what waltham and medford are like, and personally i think waltham is kind of gross but it is close to boston, which is a huge plus.</p>
<p>also, like what cltdad said, the research opportunities will be different at all three (mostly between UM and the other two)</p>
<p>I currently live in Boston and really don’t want to have to leave the city let alone leave the state. I know Michigan is a good school and that there academics are top notch, but I am really afraid that I will get homesick. </p>
<p>Do you think the research opportunities are really that different between Michigan and Tufts/Brandeis? Anyone have any experiences at either of the schools?</p>
<p>It really boils down to whether or not you want to pursue grad school in physics. If the answer is yes then UM is a much better bet for you not only because of the research opportunities but also because you can have a much better feel for which area in physics to pursue. Michigan is a tad lower than the top notch physics programs. The one issue with smaller lac colleges is that you will not get a good sense of what grad school is like and also the quality of other students - you need to know where you are likely to stand vis a vis other like minded students. Most science students at tufts are really pursuing the pre-med option.</p>
<p>I am planning on attending Graduate school after I obtain my undergraduate in physics, so many Umich would be a better option. Its just going to suck to leave Boston and my family behind :/</p>
<p>If I picked Tufts do you think graduate school would be a huge reach? I know their are not a lot of physics majors at Tufts, so many being closer to my professor would get me better recommendations and more research time. I guess that is the way I think of it, am I off?</p>
<p>My son who is currently a junior is in the same boat as you - he wants to go to grad. school in physics. A lot of friends have recommended that he go to LAC where the teaching is general more focused. However I have chatted with several physics prof. at different schools ( can’t name them for confidential reasons ) and they uniformly are of the opinion that in MOST cases he would be better off going to a program which has a good research program. There are exceptionally bright students who will do well no matter where they go to school, but on balance my limited findings suggest that a research oriented school is the way to go. There is an added advantage in a school like U-Mich. Should you decide that grad school in physics is not for you, you have numerous other branches to consider - applied physics, computer science etc. In a smaller school, these opportunities will be limited. Have you applied for the honors program in Michigan ? Try that route - you can get the best of both worlds.</p>
<p>Ann Arbor is a great college town - it’s not the same as Boston though. Few places are.</p>
<p>With regards to your question on Tufts - yes that option certainly would work. Tufts actually does have a pretty decent research dept ( condensed matter, cosmology and particle physics etc. Alex Vilenkin in particular is quite well known. Also being close to MIT/Harvard there is always the possibility of cross registering for classes. Have you visited the department and talked to some of the professors ?</p>
<p>I am planning on visiting Tufts physics department sometime in the next couple of weeks. I am a transfer student and have been accepted to Umich and Brandeis (I am just waiting on a decision from Tufts, which is why I haven’t gone to visit the physics department yet). I completely agree with you that a bigger school is going to have more research opportunities and better chances at a graduate school. Thanks for the input!</p>